Vuze, Inc. |
| Type | Private company |
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| Industry | Video distribution |
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| Founded | 2006 |
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| Headquarters | 4 W. 4th Avenue, Suite 401
San Mateo, California 94402, USA |
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| Key people | Gilles BianRosa, Olivier Chalouhi, Chris Thun, Milan Parikh |
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| Products | Vuze (formerly Azureus) |
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| Website | www.vuze.com |
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Vuze, Inc. (formerly Azureus, Inc.) is a company formed by some of the core developers of the open source BitTorrent client Azureus. Based in San Mateo, California, it bills itself as "the company behind Azureus".[1]
In January 2007, the company launched an Azureus-powered open entertainment platform called Vuze (formerly Zudeo), which is intended to enable content providers to easily distribute their content over the Internet.[1]
The company claimed to have "distribution deals with 12 television, film and media companies"[2] and now seems to have deals with over 100 content providers around the world. Vuze attracts and features high quality content from a growing roster of global television networks (BBC, Showtime, PBS, A&E, National Geographic Channel & more), premier production studios and thousands of maverick content creators. Vuze also provides viewers with access to a world of high-res content that can be viewed in DVD-quality and HD, right on a computer monitor or connected TV.
In November 2007, Vuze filed a petition with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to restrict Internet traffic throttling by Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Vuze filed its “Petition for Rulemaking” to urge the FCC to adopt regulations limiting Internet traffic throttling, a practice by which ISPs block or slow the speed at which Internet content, including video files, can be uploaded or downloaded.[3] In December 2007, Vuze secured $20 million in its C round of funding.[4] This round was led by New Enterprise Associates (NEA), with existing investors Redpoint Ventures, Greycoft Partners, BV Capital, and Jarl Mohn participating. As a result of the investment, TiVo Co-Founder and former CEO Mike Ramsay joined the Vuze Board of Directors.
On 2006-12-20, the BBC announced that hundreds of episodes of its programs will be made available through Vuze (restricted by DRM).[5]
References
- ^ a b "Azureus' Next-Generation Video Distribution Platform Goes Live" (Press release). Azureus. 2006-12-04. http://cache2.vuze.com/press/PR200612 04_Zudeo_Goes_Live.pdf. Retrieved 2006-12-18.
- ^ Calore, Michael (2006-12-04). "Azureus' HD Vids Trump YouTube". Wired News. Retrieved 2006-12-19.
- ^ Video distributor wants FCC to stop ISP traffic 'throttling'(Washington Post):(2007-11-18) Retrieved on (2008-01-04).
- ^ Vuze, Inc. Secures $20 Million in New Round of Funding Led by Top Tier Investors(Vuze):(2007-12-19) Retrieved on (2008-01-04).
- ^ "BBC moves to file-sharing sites". BBC NEWS. 2006-12-20. Retrieved 2006-12-20.
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